Lipstick case



Jan. 1, 1957 N. WARREN, JR 2,776,051

LIPSTICK cA'sE Filed June 9, 1954 FIG. 3. FIG. 2.

FIG. 5.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Y NORTH WARREN.JR. BY

M UZM/ United States Patent LIPSTICK CASE Northam Warren, In, New Canaan, Conn., assignor to Northam Warren Corporation, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of New York Application June 9, 1954, Serial No. 435,468

2 Claims. (Cl. 206-56) The present invention relates generally to cosmetic appliances, and is particularly directed to a new and improved lipstick case construction.

The particular embodiment of the present invention, which is illustrated in the drawings and which will be described hereinafter in greater detail, comprises generally, a tube having one end open, a lipstick carrier slidable in the tube, and a cap removably disposable over the open the end to close the latter.

There are, of course, prior lipstick cases of somewhat similar construction. However in all of such devices, when it was desired to determine the color of lipstick contained therein, it was necessary to remove the cap and extend the lipstick beyond the tube for viewing. in addition to being time consuming and inconvenient, both during the retail sale of a lipstick and in ordinary usage, this procedure frequently resulted in sculfing and gouging of the lipstick, and thus removing the factory finish and newness of appearance. While attempts have been made to overcome this problem, such as by painting the case exterior to simulate the color of the contained lipstick, these attempts have proved unsatisfactory by reason of their cost and inaccurate color representation.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to overcome the abovementioned difliculties and provide a lipstick case which in its completely closed condition affords visual access to the contained lipstick and thus permits quick and easy determination of the lipstick color without opening the case.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a novel lipstick carrier construction for use in a lipstick case, which carrier construction is adapted to be substituted for the conventional cup and actuating memher and permit viewing of the lipstick when the case is in completely closed condition.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel cosmetic device of the type described which is extremely simple and durable in construction and operation, and which can be manufactured by modern mass production techniques at a reasonable cost.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view showing a lipstick case constructed in accordance with the present invention, part of the closure cap being broken away for clarity of understanding;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view showing the lipstick case of Fig. 1 and taken at right angles with respect thereto;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal view of the lipstick case similar to Fig. l, and showing the cap removed and lipstick extended;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the lipstick carrier of the present invention removed from the case;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational View of the lipstick carrier of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the lipstick carrier of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein comprises an inner member or tube 10, a carrier 11 slidably mounted in the tube, and a closure cap 12 removably engageable over one end of the tube for closing the case.

The tube 10 has its rear end portion 13 closed and may be decorated as by grooves and knurling, or the like, for ornamentation and firm manual grasping. The front end 14 of the tube 19 is open, and a slot 15 extends longitudinally inwards through the front tube end and terminates in an end wall 16 adjacent to and spaced from the rear tube end. Extending into the forward end of the slot 15 are a pair of facing spaced lugs or stops 17, 17, and a plurality of outwardly upset portions or projections 18 are formed on the tube adjacent to and spaced from the open end 14, all for purposes appearing presently.

The carrier 11 is slidable forwardly and rearwardly within the tube 10 and supports one end of a lipstick 20 for extensile and retractile movement through the open tube end 14. The carrier includes a generally cylindrical or tubular wall 21 having its opposite ends open, as at 22 and 23, and formed with an internal annular seat or transverse wall 24 adjacent to and spaced above the lower cylinder end 22. That is, the transverse wall 24 is formed with a central aperture 25 and fixed in the cylinder 21 to provide an upwardly facing cup-like member for receiving and holding one end of the lipstick 20, the lower cylinder portion depending from the wall 24 to provide a rigidifying skirt. Internally of the cup-like lipstick holder, preferably integral with the wall 21, are formed a pair of longitudinally disposed ribs 26, 26 which extend upwards from the wall 24 and terminate short of the upper holder end 23. The ribs 26 serve to engage with the inserted lipstick end and retain the latter within the lips-tick holder.

The carrier 11 also includes a laterally outwardly pro jecting operating member or lug 28 secured to, and preferably formed integrally with the wall 21 adjacent to and spaced below the upper end 23. The operating member 28 may be provided with an enlarged head, as at 29, if desired. In its preferred form, the entire carrier 11, including the cylinder 21, transverse wall 24 and operating member 28 are integrally formed of transparent material, such as plastic or the like, for manufacturing economy. However, for reasons which will soon become apparent, it will sufiice if only the operating member and the adjacent cylinder portion 30 are fabricated of transparent material.

In assembled relation, the cylinder 21 is slidable in the tube 10, with the operating member 28 projecting outwards through the slot 11 and slidable forwardly and rearwardly therein. Thus, rotation of the carrier in the tube is prevented; and, the operating member 28 perm-its of manual actuation for effecting forward and rearward sliding of the carrier, and hence, of the lipstick 2%). Obviously, the depending skirt portion of the cylinder 21 serves to increase the bearing area of the cylinder with the interior of the tube 10 to prevent wobbl-ing and other undesired movements of the carrier in the tube. Forward carrier movement will be limited by the engagement of the operating member 28 with the stops 17, and rearward carrier movement will be limited by engagement of the operating member with the slot end wall 16.

It will now be apparent that the lipstick 20 may be viewed through the transparent operating member 28 and the adjacent cylinder portion 30 regardless of the position of movement of the carrier and lipstick. That is, visual access may be had through the operating member and adjacent cylinder portion even when the carrier is in its extreme rearward position of movement. In this condition, the closure cap 12 may be engaged over the open tube end 14 to close the latter and cover the slot 15. The cap is engageable with the surface projections 18 so as to be frictionally retained in its closing relation; and, the cap edge 31 engages with the operating member 28 to hold the latter in its extreme rearward position of movement. Thus, the operating member projects outwardly beyond the cap 12 and is exposed to view when the cap is in its closing relation to afford visual access to the interior of the carrier and lipstick contained therein.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to the push-pull type of lipstick case employing the straight slot 15, it is appreciated that a curved slot may be employed where it is desired to effect lipstick extension and retraction by a twisting movement. Further, the slot may be replaced by a relatively small light permeable window, and the operating member completely omitted, the window and transparent carrier serving to permit observation of the lipstick When in its rctracted position. The last mentioned arrangement will be satisfactory in the screw type lipstick case which does not require a laterally projecting operating member and guide slot.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a lipstick case construction which fully accomplishes its intended objects, and which is Well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lipstick case comprising an opaque tube having its front end open and formed with a longitudinally extending slot, a transparent plastic cup slidable in said tube and adapted to snugly receive one end of a lipstick for extension and retraction of said lipstick through said front tube end, a hand actuable transparent lug integral with said cup and disposed in said slot for movement with said cup rearwardly and forwardly along said slot, said lug and said cup thus afiording visual access therethrough to said lipstick, and an opaque cap removably disposed in covering relation with respect to said front tube end and said slots and engageable with said lug for maintaining the latter in its extreme rearward position of movement, said cap leaving said lug exposed to permit viewing of said lipstick when said case is closed.

2. A lipstick case comprising an opaque tube having its front end open and formed with a longitudinally extending slot, a holder slidable in said tube and adapted to embrace one end of a lipstick for extending and retracting the latter through said front tube end, said holder having at least one transparent portion located in adjacent facing relation with said slot, a hand actuable transparent lug projecting from said transparent holder portion through said slot for movement with said holder rearwardly and forwardly along said slot, said lug and transparent holder portion thus affording visual access therethrough to said lipstick, and an opaque cap removably disposed in covering relation with respect to said front tube end and said slot and engageable with said lug for maintaining the latter in its extreme rearward position of movement, said cap leaving said lug exposed to permit viewing of said lipstick when said case is closed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,447,727 Kendall Mar. 6, 1923 1,906,967 Houlihan May 2, 1933 2,422,705 Saint Clair June 24, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,172 Great Britain 1910 924,838 France Mar. 17, 1947 

